Politics The US Has Four Doomsday Planes And The Government Doesn't Like Talking About Them

A quartet of winged nuclear war bunkers lies in wait for the worst. The crews call them "Air Force One When It Counts," and pilots refer to them as "doomsday planes" - the deadliest aircraft in the US military's arsenal that you have never heard of before.

Since the 1980s, the president has had this fleet of specially equipped aircraft known as the E-4B Nightwatch. The doomsday plane can launch land-and-sea-based nuclear ballistic missiles from the air, and it's the go-to mode of transport for the president in the event of a nuclear apocalypse, as the airship is reportedly more secure than Air Force One.

The plane might appear self-explanatory, but there is a myriad of unexpected things you don't know about the doomsday plane. It comes fashioned with an aerial command station designed to execute war plans of epic proportions. And it's titanic, weighing up to 800,000 pounds, featuring three decks and a supposedly retro interior. In other words, it's not your average airliner.

The E-4B Nightwatch Is More Intense Than Air Force One

The doomsday plane is akin to a more advanced Air Force One. It's not merely a plane, but a strategically oriented military command center that can fly. The E-4B is an all-out warplane with a civilian wrapper.

The massive $223 million plane is impervious to electromagnetic pulse, which is radiation released by an electric, radiated, or magnetic source. It has three levels and can weigh up to 800,000 pounds. The doomsday plane can reportedly reach speeds up to 602 mph, faster than a typical commercial aircraft.

It's Designed To Withstand Blasts From Nuclear Weapons And Asteroids

The doomsday plane's equipment is so powerful that it needs an air-conditioning system to maintain a cool enough temperature to properly function. It also requires a trained team of tech analysts to troubleshoot the devices.

The plane must have heavy-duty protection; its thermo-radiation shields can withstand the fallout from nuclear weapons and even asteroid strikes.

It's Expensive To Operate

During an apocalyptic event, the president, joint chiefs of staff, and defense secretary would board an E-4B at a top-secret location and take off. A 112-person crew would accompany them, as it takes many people to manage the aircraft and keep the presidential party safe.

Nightwatch, as the crew calls the plane, requires extensive labor to operate, which adds up in cost - about $159,529 per hour in flight.